A mild drama ensued at Area 8 Garki, Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T.), Abuja, yesterday, between operatives of the Park-and-Pay policy and some residents whose vehicles were locked.
Enforcers of illegal parking clamped down on some vehicles in front of banks, and demanded a fine of N20,000 from each of the car owners.
But the car owners protested and argued that the sanctions should be meted out to banks and not them.
One of the victims and National Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dantalle Yusuf, accused the operators of demanding a bribe of N5,000, before unclamping his vehicle, which they denied.
Dantalle said as at the time his car was clamped, banks had closed,which made it difficult for him to pay the fine.
“I was coming out when I saw some persons locking the tyres of my vehicle. I asked them what they problem was and they said I parked wrongly.
“I wondered where I should have packed since my car was in front of a bank. And the security men instructed me to park there.
“I tried resolving the issue but the men were not willing to listen. They gave me a ticket that I should pay N20,000. But the bank had closed. They said I should use a POS. Now, I noticed that the name on the account is not that of the FCT. I asked them if it was correct, they were mum.
“One of them told me to give him N5,000 to unlock my car. I refused. When they noticed that people were beginning to gather they started retreating.
“Whatever punishment they have it should be to the bank and not me. I am just a customer,” he said.
Chinono Adennu, also a victim, said: “The bank is saying that they have paid. But that is not my business whether they have paid or not. My business is that after finishing my transaction I should drive my car and go. But it is unfortunate that they have locked my car.”
The operators declined to further comment on the matter, saying they were not authorized to speak on the issue.
The Managing Director of Automaten Technik Baumaten Nigeria (ATB), and Department of Transportation, FCT, Dr Suleiman Adejoh, who salvaged the circus, said he understood the pains of Nigerians.
Adejoh explained that the policy had been in existence for a long time, adding that most owners had feigned ignorance, just to break the law.
According to him, car owners were not expected to park on walkways or green areas, to avert accident and a deface of the city centre.
He, however, instructed his men to unlock the vehicle and apologised to the victims.